Hatey Bazarey (1967) :
Brief Review -
Tapan Sinha's Himalay Ki Godd Mein-but with a tragic ending. That might sound like a spoiler, but honestly, it doesn't take away from the viewing experience. Many of you might have seen Manoj Kumar's Himalay Ki Godd Mein, which focused on the challenges of a doctor in a remote area. That film had a happy ending and carried a strong social message. In contrast, Hatey Bazarey ends on a tragic note, which becomes fairly predictable before the climax even arrives. And yet, it remains engaging. The story revolves around an idealistic doctor, portrayed brilliantly by Ashok Kumar, who is revered as a god-like figure in a small town. He's respected by both the poor and the rich. Naturally, there's a villain-envious of the doctor-who has his eyes on a beautiful young widow named Chipli, played by Vyjayanthimala. Chipli respects the doctor and often helps him with his work. After the doctor's wife dies, Chipli begins assisting him as a nurse, but the villain continues to pursue her. The doctor protects her-but for how long? While the plot becomes predictable, it's still compelling. The story gains depth through the doctor's character arc, especially as he faces an unexpected challenge that alters everything. His journey and sacrifice end up inspiring others far beyond what he could have imagined. Ashok Kumar is excellent in the lead role-his delivery of both Bengali and Hindi dialogues is remarkable. Vyjayanthimala is in top form, and Ajitesh Bandopadhyay, Rudraprasad Sengupta, Chhaya Devi, and others lend solid support. The screenplay could have been tighter, and a couple of songs could have been trimmed in editing. Tapan Sinha's realistic approach gives the film artistic weight, but the surface sometimes feels too thin to mask its flaws. Overall, a good fil, but its predictability and simplicity prevent it from reaching truly great heights.
RATING - 6/10*
By - #samthebestest.
